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LETTER: Investigative report on Syrian group fell short

Amazingly CBS’ 60 Minutes ran a June 18 story on the non-governmental organization “White Helmets” (Syria Civil Defence). It described the group as strictly volunteers who help Syrians victimized by civil chaos, bombings, etc. in Syria.

Amazingly CBS’ 60 Minutes ran a June 18 story on the non-governmental organization “White Helmets” (Syria Civil Defence). It described the group as strictly volunteers who help Syrians victimized by civil chaos, bombings, etc. in Syria.

But, there is another story inside this story the mainstream corporate media should have realized — unless they’re doing the establishment’s bidding? There are a lot of questions and information suggesting it is not as simple as the 60 Minutes portrayal. Articles posted on www.strategic-culture-org by Finian Cunningham, a former editor and writer for major news organizations, writing extensively about international affairs, and Peter Korzun, offer fuller insights into this group:

•The organizer of this group is a former military intelligence officer, now, private security consultant in “rebel” controlled Syria;

•The group receives government funds from the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany and Japan; the U.S. $23 million (2013-2016) flows from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); the latter entity has been used as “a cover for covert CIA activities;”

•The entity only provides support to Syrians “in areas controlled by the violent opposition,” but, not those who are hurt from terrorists’ attacks in the government-controlled areas;

•While the group claims not to be armed, it has been reported that photographs document members carrying arms and also “celebrating terrorist group military successes;”

•The White Helmets reportedly post false/fake photos as efforts to blame the Syrian military for targeting civilians and casualties thereto and reportedly released videos/images to the Western media from the location of the April 4 alleged chemical attack; they have also been accused of producing fake photos to blame the Russian military for actions it did not carry out;

•An investigative story by researcher and reporter Vanessa Beeley exposes one of the leaders of the group as an arms trader, supplying terrorists with arms.

Most stunning, articles about the White Helmets clearly state that it is “nothing else but an elaborate deception” and “a tool used by Western spy agencies to denigrate Russia and everyone who does not support the terrorists in their effort to overthrow the Syria’s legitimate government.”